Knicks Rumors: Devin Vassell has some fans at Madison Square Garden

Florida State’s Devin Vassell could be a target by the New York Knicks in the 2020 NBA Draft.

While the New York Knicks recover from yet another lottery that saw them fall back from where their record had originally placed them, names are starting to emerge as possibilities for the 8th overall pick. SNY reporting on Friday that Florida State’s Devin Vassell is a player who “has some fans at Madison Square Garden.”

While there are wide-ranging opinions on how the top prospects will fall in the range leading up to the Knicks’ pick, Vassell is a player that very well could be available at eight on the draft board.

Devin Vassell would give the Knicks perimeter shooting

The 6-foot-7 guard would give the Knicks much needed shooting in their lineup, as he was a volume three-point shooter while playing in the ACC. After attempting seven threes per game during his freshman season, he saw his totals dip this past year, but he still shot 4.9 per game, while connecting on 41.5% of them.

Vassell is a spot-up shooter who is also excellent in transition, with Synergy stats showing him reach 1.411 points per possession on open court possessions.

The second-team All-ACC guard averaged 12.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists during his sophomore campaign. He is also known to be a very good team defender, which should appeal to recently-hired Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau.

The Knicks have been linked to top point guard prospect LaMelo Ball in the upcoming draft, but obviously, after falling to eighth, it would seem unlikely they could draft him unless they work out a trade to move within the top few picks. Golden State is a team that has openly noted their willingness to part with their second overall pick, but they are looking for veteran help, something the Knicks do not have much of to offer. Perhaps they can get a third team involved to make a deal work.

The Knicks also have the 27th and 38th picks in the upcoming draft, which they could package together in an attempt to move up. If they stand pat, and don’t trade their pick, even for a veteran, perhaps Devin Vassell will be their choice.